Miles Coverdale, Bishop of Exeter
Miles Coverdale was a Cambridge graduate who came to espouse the same religious and political views as Tyndale. While at Cambridge, Coverdale met with a number of other students and teachers who frequented a local pub called the White Horse Inn for the purpose of discussing theological issues (a healthy discipline which continues in many places yet today).
Miles was ordained a priest at Norwich in 1514. He entered the convent of Augustinian friars at Cambridge, where he made the acquaintance of Sir Thomas More. While in More's home he met Thomas Cromwell who was to become chancellor of England
The prior of his abbey was Robert Barnes, who had been converted under the ministry of Thomas Bilney. Barnes introduced Coverdale to the study of the scriptures, and this eventually led him to participate in the disputes in the White Horse Inn.
Coverdale later abandoned his vows, leaving the friary to become an itinerant preacher. He traveled extensively on the continent, arriving in Hamburg in 1529, where he met Tyndale. While assisting Tyndale, Coverdale also embarked on a writing career, publishing some twenty-six translations of reformed writers.
Jacob van Meteran, an Antwerp merchant, hired Miles to translate the Bible into English. This he accomplished in 1535. Coverdale attempted to get his translation authorized, but this failed. This edition and several others were of dubious quality; none received official approval. In fact, in 1542 Coverdale's Bible was placed on a list of banned books!
In 1538 Coverdale was in Geneva and helped to prepare the Geneva Bible. The real break-through came when Thomas Cromwell, in 1539 commissioned Coverdale to edit the Matthews Bible. This was to be the best authorized version in King Henry's reign.
Coverdale was an exceptionally gifted preacher and he helped in many ways to further the Lord's work. He helped Cranmer draw up the Book of Common Prayer, he was an active aggressor of the Anabaptist movement which, at that time, was opposing the reform movement.
When Mary ascended the throne in 1553 Coverdale was required to stand before the Privy Council but was spared burning by the intercession of Christian III of Denmark.
As a result Coverdale was forced to flee England in the face of the fierce opposition to his bold Luther-influenced preaching against Catholic doctrine.
Upon Elizabeth's ascending the throne in 1558, Coverdale returned to England and ministered in the area of London Bridge, always drawing huge crowds. He died in February of 1568, and is buried in the graveyard of St. Magnus Church.
See online Coverdale Bible text here.